USCIS Will Begin Accepting Parole-in-Place (PIP) Applications on August 19, 2024
On June 18, 2024, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced actions to promote family unity in the immigration process, consistent with the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to keep families together.
Today, DHS released additional details on the new Parole-in-Place (PIP) program, including that on August 19, eligible spouses and children will be able to apply for this process to obtain legal status while remaining with their families.
In the meantime, DHS continues to establish a process to consider, on a case-by-case basis, requests for parole in place from certain noncitizen spouses of U.S. citizens who have been in the U.S. for at least a decade.
If parole is granted, noncitizens who are eligible to apply for lawful permanent residence based on their marriage to a U.S. citizen will be able to do so without having to leave the United States.
NOTE: USCIS is not currently accepting applications under this process but will begin accepting applications on Aug. 19. If you apply before Aug. 19, your application will be rejected.
Eligibility
To be considered for a discretionary grant of parole, on a case-by-case basis, under this process, you must:
• Be present in the United States without admission or parole;
• Have been continuously present in the United States for at least 10 years as of June 17, 2024;
• Have a legally valid marriage to a U.S. citizen as of June 17, 2024;
• Not have any disqualifying criminal history or otherwise constitute a threat to national security or public safety; and
• Otherwise merit a favorable exercise of discretion.
More information about these eligibility criteria will be available in the forthcoming Federal Register notice.
We may also consider certain noncitizen children of requestors under this process if, as of June 17, 2024, they were physically present in the United States without admission or parole and have a qualifying stepchild relationship to a U.S. citizen.
Timeline
You cannot apply for this process yet. A Federal Register update will be published notice that will further explain eligibility and the application process, including the form to use, and the associated filing fees.
We will provide additional information on the Process to Promote the Unity and Stability of Families webpage as it becomes available.
What You Can Do Now
Although the USCIS is not currently accepting applications, you can begin to prepare to file a parole application by gathering evidence of your eligibility, such as:
• Evidence of a legally valid marriage to a U.S. citizen as of June 17, 2024, such as a marriage certificate;
• Documentation of proof of identity, including expired documents may include:
• Valid state or country driver’s license or identification;
• Birth certificate with photo identification;
• Valid passport; or
• Any government-issued document bearing the requestor’s name, date of birth, and photo.
• Evidence of your spouse’s U.S. citizenship, such as a passport, birth certificate or Certificate of Naturalization;
• Documentation to establish your continued presence in the United States for at least 10 years as of June 17, 2024.
While more information will be made available in the forthcoming Federal Register Notice and subsequent FAQs, examples of documentation could include copies of:
• Rent receipts or utility bills;
• School records (letters, report cards, etc.);
• Hospital or medical records;
• Attestations to your residence by religious entities, unions, or other organizations, identifying you by name;
• Official records from a religious entity confirming participation in a religious ceremony;
• Money order receipts for money sent into or out of the United States;
• Birth certificates of children born in the United States;
• Dated bank transactions;
• Automobile license receipts, title, or registration;
• Deeds, mortgages, or rental agreement contracts;
• Insurance policies; or
• Tax returns or tax receipts.
For noncitizen children of requestors, evidence of eligibility could include:
• Evidence of the child’s relationship to the noncitizen parent, such as a birth certificate or adoption decree;
• Evidence of the noncitizen parent’s legally valid marriage to a U.S. citizen as of June 17, 2024, such as a marriage certificate; and
• Evidence of the child’s presence in the United States as of June 17, 2024.
Beware of Scams: We want to remind you that immigration scams are pervasive.
Also please remember that in the United States, a notario público is not authorized to provide you with any legal services related to immigration. Only an attorney licensed to practice law in the United States or an accredited representative working for a Department of Justice-recognized organization can give you legal advice.
If you seek legal counsel, beware of individuals who pose as immigration attorneys (such as unlicensed individuals or disbarred attorneys). The signs of an unethical practitioner may include:
• Promising guaranteed outcomes or money-back guarantees;
• Using predatory or threatening pricing structures;
• Asking you to sign a blank paper or not allowing you to review a paper you have signed; and
• Asking to keep your signature on file.
If you believe you may be eligible under these criteria, please contact our office for a consultation at 817.917.8121.
In the meantime, we will keep you apprised of any updates as they become available. More information about eligibility and the application process will be published in a forthcoming Federal Register notice.
